Ever since I first heard about the War for Cybertron video game, I had had a strong curiosity about what sort of story it would tell. All I knew at the time was… that it was set before the war escalated to Earth. Granted, this was long before we knew about the Transformers: Prime cartoon or anything of the Aligned Continuity. Ergo, I had an urge to find any clue as to what sort of story this game would tell and where it go from there.

Then, some point prior to BotCon 2010, more info about the game kept coming out. Any suspicions I had about it being a prequel to some Generation 1 fiction (as was originally believed by many) began to somewhat flicker, as word about this game being some sort of foundation for a new “mega-continuity” became known. But, I still wasn’t certain of what that meant.

By the time of BotCon 2010, I had then come to the awareness of a certain novel titled “Transformers: Exodus – The Official History of the War for Cybertron”. Hearing such a title led me to assume that it was merely the War for Cybertron game in a novelized form. An assumption that I would later find out to be a severe fallacy on my part.

After having this book recommended to me at BotCon, I picked up a copy of my own at a later point, but only began to read it once I found the time. Prior to reading it, however, was when I had discovered that my previously-made assumption about the book was incorrect. I began to read some opinions about this book and many other people agreed that it was drastically different from the game it was based on. This notion intrigued me greatly.

After having finally taken the time to read this book and then experience the WFC console game, I developed an urge to decipher this book’s continuity, picking out what all made this book’s story different from that of its game counterpart. However, as the months went on (that’s right, this project has taken me several months to complete) this task soon became much more than that.

What started out as compare/constrast deal between the Exodus novel and the WFC console game grew to incorporate aspects from other TF franchises as well. Now, I’ve gone and compared/contrasted key elements from Exodus with those in WFC, the G1 cartoon, the two Beast Era cartoons, the three Unicron Trilogy cartoons, the live action movie fiction, and the Animated fiction.

And thus, I give you "Exodus Vs."

Basically, this is a look at how the Exodus novel differs from the other listed series, showing off how unique it is in its own right, while also presenting how other series themselves are unique from the book’s story. As such, this comparison gives key evidence to show how Exodus exists as its own distinctive entity separate from these other series.

However, since there is about a bajillion different series and versions of Transformers series out there, I have only included the WFC console game, the G1 cartoon, the two Beast Era cartoons, the Unicron Trilogy cartoons, the Movie fiction (films and IDW comics) and the Animated fiction (cartoon, IDW comics, and Almanacs) in this comparison since those are the ones I know the most about.

I have omitted all other comic series since I haven’t read enough of them to include them. And I’ve also left out such cartoons as RiD since there wasn’t as much backstory put into them as these ones. And I’ve also left out the Japanese version stuff since I mostly wanted to keep this focused on the American side of things. If I can find the time to get better familiar with some of the things that I’ve omitted, I can always come back to this and fill them into their proper places on this list.

And, to make this a little easier, I have taken the time to make this comparison “Color Coded for Your Convenience”. Though, do note that there are a LOT of *SPOILERS* below. So, if you have not seen a decent amount of any of the following series, ignore the color of that/those series and read only the colors of those that you have seen.

Orion Pax was a data clerk who worked at the Hall of Records in Iacon.

Orion Pax was a dock worker who worked at an energy warehouse.

Optimus wasn’t originally Orion Pax, instead having first been nameless upon entering Boot Camp (where he received his “Optimus” name), then later attended the Autobot Academy before being reduced to Space Bridge maintenance.

In ancient times, Cybertron had been linked with other colony worlds (including Gigantion, Velocitron, and the Hub) via a network of Space Bridges.

The use of Space Bridges had become obsolete, with one sole bridge remaining; its inactive structure now floats in space between the two moons and the Asteroid Belt.

Space Bridge technology was first conceived by Shockwave in 1984.

The Hub was not part of this Space Bridge network.

While the cosmically-scaled Space Bridges linking the many planets of Cybertron, Earth, Velocitron, Jungle Planet, and Gigantion together no longer existed, smaller-scaled Space Bridges still existed and functioned for standard common use.

The Dynasty of Primes had the ability to conjure up Space Bridges at will, while later model transformers were not equipped with such features and instead began to rely on Space Bridge nodes for long distance travel.

Originally, the Space Bridges were Autobot-exclusive creations, as they were a key factor in defeating the Decepticons during the war.

Megatron did not trust Shockwave at all and firmly believed that Shockwave would one day turn against him as Shockwave’s loyalty would surely falter (despite Shockwave eventually becoming Megatron’s second-in-command).

Megatron fully trusted Shockwave, as he was one of Megatron's most loyal and most favored of all Decepticons.

Despite all these conversations he had with him, Orion Pax had yet to meet Megatron in person.

Orion Pax and Megatron first meet in person when Orion pays his first visit to Kaon.

Orion Pax first learns of Megatron by hearing about “some new kind of robot that can fly," and then seeing Megatron flying over his warehouse.

Orion first meets Megatron when Megs touches down at the warehouse and introduces himself.

Orion Pax had never personally met or known Megatron up until that exact moment.

During his Academy days, cadet Optimus faced against a simulation of Megatron, viewing his image up close for the first time.

Optimus and Megatron met each other for the first real time when Megatron tried to steal the AllSpark from Optimus’ ship.

Exodus vs. the Movies vs. AnimatedJazz’s occupation

Jazz was a cultural investigator who would come to the Hall of Records to analyze data from the Communications Grid, and had befriended Orion Pax during these tasks.

Jazz was a member of the Cybertron Security Force serving under Prowl.

Jazz had trained under Master Yoketron as a member of the Cyber-Ninja Corps, and later became a member of the Elite Guard.

Exodus vs. the Beast EraThe Covenant of Primus

The Covenant of Primus contains actual pages that Alpha Trion writes down on with the Quill.

The Covenant of Primus has no real pages, instead containing a standard-sized cassette tape that plays text onto a screen inside its covers.

Exodus vs. G1 vs. AnimatedEvents leading to Cybertron’s Golden Age

The Original 13 Transformers had fought the brutal War of the Primes, which forged and divided their allegiances and had destroyed them, scattering them across the stars.

The Golden Age had immediately followed the War of the Primes, and was an era involved in Space Bridge use.

There were no wars between the War of the Primes and the Golden Age. There had been an invasion by the Quintessons and a presumed attack by Unicron, but no war.

Two Cybertronian Wars had taken place prior to the Golden Age.

The first was the slave revolt against the Quintessons, who were the original masters of Cybertron and not invaders.

The second war occurred shortly after the first, with the Autobots defeating the Decepticons with the stealthy art of Transformation. The Golden Age occurred after that, and Guardian Robots were used to maintain peace.

The First Cybertronian War was fought against invaders from “beyond the sky”.

Sentinel Prime seems to have been the only Prime in existence following the War of the Primes to come before Optimus, as he brought forth the Golden Age and then established the Caste System afterward, bringing the Golden Age to its end.

The only other Autobot leader known other than Optimus Prime was Rodimus, but he did not bear the Prime title and was of equal rank to Optimus.

There had been an entire Dynasty of Primes to come before Optimus

Optimus was not Autobot Supreme Commander and thus did not have any lineage of predecessors. Plus, here, the highest rank of leadership was called “Magnus”, with “Prime” being a lower rank.

However, those who were known to have bore the Magnus rank include Zeemon Magnus, Nova Magnus, Powered Convoy “P.C." Magnus, and Ultra Magnus. Sentinel Prime became the “acting Magnus”, but hasn’t officially received the rank yet.

Exodus vs. G1 vs. AnimatedOrion Pax’s closest friends

Jazz was Orion Pax’s best friend, and had been long since before Pax was renamed “Optimus Prime”.

Megatron referred to Orion as his “brother” out of respect for him and their friendship.

Megatron firmly believed that Orion Pax/Optimus Prime had ultimately betrayed him, using Megatron’s charisma and ambitions as a means to drive Orion/Optimus’ plan to obtain power of his own.

Megatron called Optimus “the prodigy," and wanted revenge on him for something that happened between the two of them long ago.

Megatron only wanted to steal the energy from Orion Pax’s warehouse and didn’t care for Orion Pax at all.

Megatron does not even know or recognize Orion after he’s rebuilt as Optimus Prime.

Megatron was obsessed with Optimus, seeing himself as the Yin to Optimus’ Yang. Eternal rivals destined to oppose each other for all time. With Optimus gone, Megatron would have no further challenges for him to face and beat.

Megatron and Optimus Prime were both brothers and co-rulers of Cybertron.

Megatron would tend to bicker with his brother over differing opinions from time to time, but still maintained a somewhat balanced form of government.

Megatron did not even know Optimus Prime’s name, seeing him as nothing more than another Autobot obstacle in his plans.

All Cybertronians were born from the AllSpark, carrying out the will of Primus inside the Well of All Sparks.

Once a Cybertronian emerges from the Well of All Sparks, they are immediately assigned to a specific caste.

The AllSpark, which gives birth to new Transformers inside the Well, was ejected from Cybertron, preventing any new Transformers from ever being born.

The original Cybertronians were created by the Quintessons, with their bodies forged from the Plasma Energy Chamber and granted life by Vector Sigma. Later generations of Cybertronians were apparently birthed by being built by pre-existing Cybertronians.

New Transformers could simply be mechanically constructed later in the war, with or without Vector Sigma’s life-granting abilities.

Protoform technology plays a key role in Cybertronian birth, as a Protoform is the earliest stage of a Transformer’s life and is granted a Spark from the Allspark (lowercase S) dimension (which Vector Sigma had access to).

The Allspark (lowercase S) contains a limitless supply of Sparks, as it bears every Cybertronian Spark of those who have lived and will live.

Transformers were birthed by the power of the Sacred Implement known as the AllSpark.

The AllSpark was ejected from Cybertron. Without it, Cybertronian birth wasn’t happening.

The Sacred Implement called the AllSpark is the source of all Cybertronian life, coupled with the Protoforms nurtured inside Stasis Pods stored inside the Matrix Chamber.

The AllSpark was launched from Cybertron into a Space Bridge to be lost in a random, unknown location. However, the Vector Sigma computer served as an alternative life-granting device.

Exodus vs. the Beast Era vs. the Movies vs. AnimatedProtoforms

“Proto-forms” are birthed from the AllSpark in the Well of All Sparks.

In the past, Proto-forms would escape from the Underworld to the surface. But in the era of the Caste System, they would be educated inside the well, where they would be taught how to transform and be assigned to a specific caste.

“Proto-form” is the term used to refer to one’s Robot Mode.

Protoforms are the earliest stage of a Transformer’s life, being produced presumably from the Matrix and Pit facilities.

Protoforms are kept within Stasis Pods until they are granted sparks, given altmode programming, and become fully-functional transformers.

Protoforms are often used for transporting Transformers through space.

Protoforms are a Transformer’s most basic form, being nurtured within energon wombs.

Protoforms take on an exo-structure to use as their normal Robot Mode appearance, generated from the process of trans-scanning an altmode.

A Protoform is basically what one would call a “naked” Transformer, lacking its exo-structural armor components that would be the Cybertronian equivalent of clothing worn by Earth humans.

Protoforms are mined from the living protomatter found deep in the Sonic Canyons of Cybertron.

Each Protoform is then placed into and nurtured inside Stasis Pods that are stored and basked under the light of the Matrix Chamber, guarded by the Cyber-Ninja Corps.

Once they are placed into pre-built robot shells called “moulds”, each is then granted a spark by either the AllSpark or the ancient Vector Sigma computer.

Exodus vs. AnimatedThe Well of All Sparks

The Well of All Sparks is the birthplace of all Cybertronian life.

The Well of All Sparks is repeatedly referenced as being some sort of afterlife that all Transformers go to after their death (similar in concept to the Allspark, [lowercase S] of the Beast Era).

Exodus vs. WFCBarricade’s physical appearance

Barricade was black and white with red optics.

Barricade was gray and purple with yellow optics.

Exodus vs. G1 vs. the Movies vs. AnimatedThe term “Autobot”

It was Orion Pax who coined the name “Autobot”, shortened from his “Autonomous Robots” idea.

The “Autobot” dates back to the Second Cybertronian War, before Orion Pax.

The term “Autobot” is a shortening of “Autonomous Robotic Organism”, being the actual name of the dominant race of Cybertron.

The term “Autobot” emerged in the ancient past after a long line of previously-established factions, following the Guardians, the Protectons and the Protectobots.

Exodus vs. the Movies vs. AnimatedThe term “Decepticon”

The term “Decepticon” was apparently coined by followers of Megatron’s ideals (though it is hinted that Megatron himself may have had something to do with the founding of this name).

The term “Decepticon” originally came from The Fallen in the past when he created a small army to stand against his brothers, the other Primes.

With The Fallen having been the first Decepticon, he came to tempting Megatron with his philosophy and the term later came to be applied to a splinter group of the Autobot race under Megatron’s command.

The term “Decepticon” emerged as the name of a sub-faction of the Destron faction long before Megatron was in command.

Orion Pax becomes “Optimus Prime” via a simple name change by the High Council and during the post-Golden Age time of the Caste System.

Optimus is officially named Prime by Alpha Trion, long after he was given the same name as a de facto title, and only after Sentinel Prime’s passing.

Optimus Prime was never referred to as “Orion Pax” before his Prime promotion. He was only ever called just “Optimus”. Nothing more, nothing less.

Optimus assumes a temporary command after he learns of the loss of Zeta Prime, but is not yet renamed as Prime.

Optimus is given the title of Prime (for the first time) by the High Council after Zeta Prime’s passing. Before, Optimus had stated that there were no Primes, indicating that he had not ever been one up until that point.

Orion Pax is rebuilt into an entirely new form by Alpha Trion, who gives him the name of “Optimus Prime." This process of his occurs during the Golden Age.

Optimus (not Orion Pax) inherited the title of Prime from Sentinel Prime

A nameless Autobot cadet was given the name “Optimus” in Boot Camp by Kup Minor, for his cheerfulness and optimism.

Cadet Optimus was given the rank of Prime by Autobot Supreme Commander Ultra Magnus after pulling a few strings and seeing potential in the youth.

Exodus vs. AnimatedUltra Magnus before the war

Ultra Magnus was sergeant of the Council Guardians and later became the leader of the Wreckers.

The young cadet Ultra was given his name by Impactor Major (who was presumably ranked Minor back then) in Autobot Boot Camp.

Later, as Ultra Prime, he was sworn in as Autobot Supreme Commander with the rank of Magnus, due to growing war tensions instigated by Megatron.

Exodus vs. WFCStarscream’s attendance on Trypticon station

Starscream barely ever went to Trypticon Station during the war.

Starscream was once Sky Commander until he was betrayed and demoted to guarding the station at all times.

Exodus vs. G1Crystal City’s destruction

Crystal City was destroyed by the Constructicons as Devastator.

More Constructicons aside from those who were merged into Devastator helped attack Crystal City.

Several Autobots defended Crystal City before it fell.

Crystal City was destroyed by being torn apart and collapsed, leaving it as nothing but a big husk of ruins.

Starscream fought during the battle that destroyed Crystal City.

Crystal City’s ruins were shattered even further by Trypticon’s impact later on.

Crystal City was destroyed by the Constructicons in their Vehicle Modes

The City had no one defending it, as its guardian, Omega Supreme, had stepped away while it was destroyed instantaneously.

Crystal City was destroyed by being blown up, leaving nothing but a few chunks of debris sprawled on the ground.

Starscream was not present during Crystal City’s immediate destruction.

There were no ruins of the city remaining, just some crumbled pieces of rubble.

It is believed that the Devastator who destroyed Crystal City had seven components.

If there are enough Constructicons present, two Devastators can be formed.

Only six Constructicons form Devastator, and there’s only one Devastator.

A varying amount of Constructicons can form Devastator. Sometimes six, sometimes seven, sometimes even as many as nine!

There are only three Constructicons, but none of them can combine.

Exodus vs. WFC vs. G1The Combaticons

Bruticus Maximus was awakened from teracycles of suspended animation by Megatron.

Shockwave was the one who made the Combaticons combine into Bruticus Maximus.

Brawl exists, but he’s not stated to be a Combaticon. Nor is he given any backstory of his own.

No Bruticus character appeared in the WFC console game.

The Combaticons were once the “Renegade Decepticons” whose Personality Components were removed by Shockwave under Megatron’s direct orders. Their history gives no indication that they had ever been anything other than “Renegade Decepticons”.

Starscream was the one who made the Combaticons combine into Bruticus.

Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'

Megatron did not pursue the AllSpark after it was launched into space, instead remaining on Cybertron to continue the war.

Megatron immediately chased the AllSpark into space after it was launched, leaving the rest of his troops behind.

Megatron had been searching for the AllSpark for four million stellar cycles, even well after the Great War had ended.

Exodus vs. WFC vs. G1 vs. the Movies vs. AnimatedBumblebee’s voice

Bumblebee’s vocoder had been destroyed by Megatron.

Bumblebee could speak without difficulty.

Bumblebee could speak without difficulty.

Bumblebee’s voice capacitor/vocal processor had been crushed by Megatron.

Bumblebee could speak (and speak and speak and speak) without difficulty.

Exodus vs. G1 vs. the Unicron TrilogyCybertron’s awareness of Unicron

Unicron’s past existence and identity are known of to Cybertronians.

Unicron’s existence wasn’t made known until 2005. Not even Kup (as old as he is) had heard of him.

Unicron’s existence was not made known until 2010, even though he had made previous appearances in the ancient past. Apparently, these records of his past existence weren’t discovered until after his return.

Exodus vs. WFC vs. G1 vs. the MoviesThe Seekers

Seekers are any flying Decepticons with a jet-like altmode.

Jetfire referred to himself as a “Seeker” still.

Seekers are any flying Decepticons with a jet-like altmode.

Jetfire considered himself a full Aerialbot.

Seekers all resemble the body-type of Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker (with the Coneheads bearing their own slightly altered, but still very similar, designs).

Skyfire was never stated to have been part of this group.

There are two different groups of Seekers in the Movies. One is a present-day group of jet Decepticons led by Starscream and consisting of Thundercracker, Skywarp, Ramjet, Thrust, and Dirge (despite their body differences).

The other is an ancient group of space-faring Transformers (including Jetfire) who served under the Dynasty of Primes.

Exodus vs. WFC vs. G1The Aerialbots

Aerialbots are any flying Autobots with a jet-like altmode.

The Aerialbots were former Seekers who were loyal to the Autobots.

There was no indication that any of the Aerialbots could combine, as Defensor was made out to be the Autobots’ only combiner.

Aerialbots are any flying Autobots with a jet-like altmode.

Air Raid, Silverbolt, and the Aerialbot subgroup all exist on Cybertron during the pre-Earth war.

There was no indication that any of the Aerialbots could combine

There were only five Aerialbots: Silverbolt, Air Raid, Skydive, Slingshot, and Fireflight.

The Aerialbots were created in 1985 from five Cybertronian rockets redesigned to resemble Earth planes and given life by Vector Sigma.

The five Aerialbots could combines to form Superion.

Exodus vs. WFCTrypticon Station and the Decepticons

Trypticon Station has been in the possession of the Decepticons throughout the majority of the war. Though, not directly under Megatron’s control, but still under that of a fully-Decepticon Starscream.

Trypticon Station is not yet under Decepticon control until very late in the war.

Exodus vs. WFCStarscream’s rank

Starscream had other Air Commanders under his command (as though Starscream himself wasn’t just an Air Commander, but a higher rank than that as well).

Having been previously demoted from Sky Commander, Starscream was tempted by Megatron into serving him, claiming that he can restore Starscream’s lost rank, which Starscream scoffed at.

Exodus vs. WFCStarscream’s knowledge of Dark Energon

Starscream neither knows what Dark Energon nor has seen it for himself yet, when he has had access to it since the war’s beginning.

Starscream did not know the amount of Dark Energon remaining on Trypticon Station.

Starscream is well versed on the dangers of Dark Energon and how to make more.

Exodus vs. WFC vs. G1The presence and use of Energon

Both the Autobots and the Decepticons use Energon and Energon Cubes.

Both the Autobots and the Decepticons use Energon and Energon Cubes.

The Decepticons have a monopoly on Energon. In the first episode, Hound referred to them as being "some kind of cube", indicating that the Autobots were unaware of them until their reawakening on Earth in 1984. The "Traitor" episode makes it clear that the Autobots do not use Energon Cubes during this time in the war either, opting to use Recharging Chambers instead, as seen in “Attack of the Autobots”. They don't appear to start fully using them until some point closer to 2005. Though, the "War Dawn" episode does show the Autobots storing what look to be Energon Cubes during the flashbacks to Cybertron's Golden Age, but this could be explained in two ways. One, it could be another of the G1 cartoon's many continuity errors and nothing more. Or two, since the word "Energon" is never actually used in these scenes and only the word "energy" is spoken, it could instead be considered an animation error.

Exodus vs. G1The authenticity of Energon

Energon is the emanation of Primus, which means it is natural energon.

Energon was created from secondary sources of energy, meaning that this energon was an artificial substitute.

Exodus vs. WFCSentinel Zeta Prime’s whereabouts during the war

All this time during the war, Sentinel Prime had been kept locked up inside a cell on Moon Base One.

Following the reactivation of the Geosynchronous Energon Bridge, Starscream contacted Moon Base One to commence “Operation: Unlock”.

Sentinel Prime had been freed from his prison on Moon Base One by Starscream.

Zeta Prime was the active leader of the Autobots all throughout the war, having never gone missing.

Exodus vs. WFCSentinel Zeta Prime’s allegiance

Sentinel Prime was not an Autobot and refuses to take anyone’s side, wanting nothing to do with either of the Autobot and Decepticon movements.

Zeta Prime is the Autobot Leader from the very beginning.

Exodus vs. WFCThe taking of Trypticon Station by Megatron

To take control of the station, Megatron sent his Decepticon Gladiator Corps raging through Trypticon.

The gladiators took the station with ease.

No severe damage to the station was documented in the book.

Jetfire was no longer stationed on Trypticon by this point, as he had become an Autobot.

Starscream had been on Moon Base One while Megatron overtook Trypticon Station.

Shockwave was with Megatron on Trypticon Station when it was taken.

Megatron, Brawl, Barricade, and some few footsoldiers took the station by themselves.

The Decepticons met much resistance in the station.

A portion of the station had been destroyed by a Dark Energon explosion in the past.

Jetfire was on Trypticon Station and warned Megatron of the dangers of Dark Energon.

Starscream had locked down all main routes to the Dark Energon reactor, and then attempted to destroy what remained of the Dark Energon.

Shockwave was not involved in the main story of the game.

Exodus vs. ItselfTrypticon’s sentience

Trypticon Station had recently been recreated with a spark.

Later in the war, Megatron tasked Shockwave with granting Trypticon a Spark.

Exodus vs. WFCThe storage of Dark Energon

Dark Energon was stored inside ingots set in a rack housed inside a magnetically sealed case.

The Dark Energon was stored in a giant reactor.

Exodus vs. WFCThe first Decepticons to be given doses of Dark Energon were…

Jetfire had not been a Decepticon at all during the war, having never joined them. He chose the Autobot side from the very beginning, calling Starscream a traitor when Starscream joined Megatron.

Skyfire had been a scientist with Starscream on Cybertron and had crash-landed on Earth years before the war on Cybertron even began, going into dormancy for millions of years, never participating in either faction of the war until his reawakening in 1984.

Jetfire took part in the pre-Earth war for Cybertron.

Jetfire was the second-in-command to the Autobots.

Jetfire was an ancient Seeker and Decepticon serving under the Seven Primes in the distant past.

Jetfire eventually went into dormancy on Earth long ago, never reawakening until 2009, but having switched sides right before.

Jetfire and his brother Jetstorm were twin Autobot youths who were experimented on during post-war times.

Both would have been too young to have participated in the war when it did, and were the first “normal” Autobots in history to be able of fly (not counting Swoop or the Omega Sentinels).

Exodus vs. WFCThe second encounter with Omega Supreme

Optimus and his team arrived at the impact site of Omega Supreme to see if they could help him.

Optimus, Ironhide, Jazz, Sideswipe, Prowl, and Bumblebee took part in the fight between Omega Supreme and the Decepticons.

The fight with Omega Supreme took place in a massively deep crater.

Omega Supreme destroys several Decepticon gladiators in the fight.

Omega fought with his own power.

Omega Supreme was defeated by being overwhelmed by Megatron and his gladiators.

None of Optimus’ team came to the impact site of Omega Supreme.

The only aid given to Omega Supreme came in the form of a few Aerialbots

The fight with Omega Supreme took place inside the building that Omega had crashed into.

Omega Supreme was defeated by trying to rejuvenate with batteries that had been corrupted by Dark Energon, having his exposed chest fired at, and then being directly infused with Dark Energon.

Exodus vs. WFC vs. G1Breakdown

Breakdown (or any of the Stunticons) is not mentioned in the book’s events.

Breakdown is with Megatron’s team, alive and well on the pre-Earth war for Cybertron.

Breakdown was created in 1985 from a stolen Lamborghini, given life by Vector Sigma.

Exodus vs. WFCHow the Core was tainted

Megatron tainted the Core of Cybertron by corrupting the Plasma Energy Chamber, inserting it into the Energon Bridge, inverting the bridge’s flow of energon, and then feeding Dark Energon down into the Core itself.

Megatron tainted the Core by going directly to it and firing several Dark Energon corrupter beams at its shell structure.

Exodus vs. WFCOmega Supreme’s fate

Megatron spares Omega Supreme, leaving him for the Autobots to retrieve and repair.

Ratchet had brought Omega Supreme back online, but he was still too damaged to fight.

Omega Supreme had been captured by the Decepticons, being tortured with Dark Energon.

Ratchet had to come to Omega Supreme’s location (once Omega was located much later) to try to repair him, while the Autobots were under heavy Decepticon gunfire.

Exodus vs. WFCHow Optimus learned of Sentinel Zeta Prime’s defeat

Megatron tells Optimus of the defeat of Sentinel Prime.

Bumblebee relayed the message to Optimus that Zeta Prime had fallen in battle.

Exodus vs. WFCBumblebee’s message for Optimus

Bumblebee’s urgent news for Optimus was of Megatron’s act of infecting the Core.

Bumblebee came to the Hall of Records and reported his message to Prowl.

Bumblebee still had intense difficulty trying to speak.

Bumblebee’s urgent news was of Zeta Prime’s apparent “death”.

Bumblebee came into the battlegrounds of Iacon to tell this to Optimus himself.

Bumblebee could speak with no problems.

Exodus vs. WFCWhat happened to Iacon after Omega’s defeat

Megatron leaves Iacon, not needing to conquer it.

Iacon had been taken by the Decepticons and was no longer safe for Autobots.

The Decepticons had full control over the communication grid.

Optimus, Ratchet, and Bumblebee fight back to reclaim Iacon.

The Autobots fight to reactivate Cybertron’s planetary guns.

After reactivating the guns, the Autobots had to reactivate the communication grid inside the Decagon.

Soundwave is still in Iacon.

Starscream confronted Optimus’ team at the Decagon.

Exodus vs. WFCMegatron’s views on freedom and choice

All throughout the book, Megatron’s main goal was the achievement of freedom and choice for all of Cybertron (with him as their leader).

Megatron speaks of freedom and choice as burdens and plagues, and that his rule is the only guidance Cybertron needs.

Exodus vs. WFCSentinel Zeta Prime’s message

Optimus was looking for any traces of Sentinel Prime with Jazz down in the subsurface levels of Iacon when Sentinel Prime’s message was released.

Sentinel Prime’s message was played at the Hall of Records.

Sentinel Prime’s message apparently did not openly state where he was, as its origin had to be traced.

Apparently, Sentinel Prime’s message didn’t exactly indicate that it was from Sentinel Prime.

The Autobots had to figure out that Sentinel Prime was in Kaon.

The Grid analysis deduced that Sentinel Prime was being held in the Kaon Prison.

Zeta Prime’s message appeared as his head, stated who it was from, where he was located, and played at the Decagon (where Optimus was at the time).

Exodus vs. WFCThe mission to rescue Sentinel Zeta Prime

Optimus’s team gets into Kaon by merely driving there.

The team selected to infiltrate the Kaon Prison consisted of Optimus Prime, Jazz and Prowl, with a backup team consisting of Sideswipe, Bumblebee, and Jetfire on standby.

The gladiator arena pyramid was now used as the Kaon Prison.

The Autobots enter the Kaon Prison by taking out its one guard.

All the prisoners inside the prison (save for Sentinel Prime) were dead.

Sentinel Prime was chained to a pillar in the center of the arena.

The only retaliations the Autobots encounter come from one sentry and a couple of Guardians.

Optimus acknowledges that there was little-to-no resistance in the Kaon Prison.

Optimus came up with an elaborate plan to have himself and his team captured, so they could be brought into Kaon and the Kaon Prison Complex.

The team selected to infiltrate the Kaon Prison consisted of Optimus, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, and some extra generic troops.

The Kaon Prison was a genuine prison complex.

The Autobots entered the Kaon Prison Complex by being led in by their guard captors.

The Decepticons don’t seem to know who Optimus is.

Soundwave was in charge of the prison and ordered the captive Autobots to be brought to “Recycling”.

Air Raid swooped in and busted Optimus’s team free to explore the prison.

The Autobots encountered great retaliation from the Prison Complex personnel.

Megatron confronts Optimus in the Prison using a large head module set in one of the chambers of the prison.

Optimus’s team is captured for real a second time and locked up in a prison cell.

Soundwave and Rumble taunted Optimus’s team while they were locked up.

The Autobots broke out of their cell by busting through it wall.

All the Autobot prisoners locked up in cells were alive.

Among the prisoners locked up were Jazz and Arcee.

The Autobots had to free Air Raid, who had been captured earlier.

The Autobots initiated a jailbreak of every prisoner they can free.

Jazz and Arcee could be seen escorting the prisoners to safety. Air Raid helped out too.

Laserbeak could be seen perched in three different locations, spying on the Autobots.

Megatron refused to allow the Autobots to reach Zeta Prime.

Zeta Prime was kept in a maximum security bunker in the lower levels of the Kaon Prison Complex. He was hooked up to cables, being tortured by Soundwave.

The Autobots have a battle with Soundwave, Frenzy, Rumble, and Laserbeak for Zeta Prime’s freedom.

Exodus vs. WFCThe High Council

The High Council is the ruling body of Cybertron, who govern over it.

The High Council of Elders’ sole function of existence is to choose and elect the Primes.

Exodus vs. WFCThe remaining members of the High Council

Only three members of the High Council were still alive, and they were all Decepticons.

Ratbat was among the still-living council members (the other two being contrail and Drivetrain).

The High Council still exists even after the point when Zeta Prime is retrieved from Kaon, and its members are Autobot affiliated.

Ratbat is not present at all during the game’s events (nor were the other two).

Exodus vs. WFCWho tells Optimus to go to the Core

Sentinel Prime tells Optimus to go to Core and do something about its infected state.

The High Council tells Optimus to go to the Core and do something about its infected state.

Exodus vs. WFCThe mission to the Core

Optimus took Bumblebee and Jetfire with him to go to the Core.

Omega Supreme played no role in this mission.

Optimus’ team entered the Well of All Sparks to head for the Core.

Megatron had believed that the sheer intensity of the Dark Energon lying between the Core and the Well’s rim would have been too much for any Autobot to get through in order to reach the Core.

The trip to the Core is a very uneventful one.

The floor collapses below the Autobots’ feet at one point due to it being weakened by Dark Energon.

The Plasma Energy Chamber had embedded itself inside the Core, and had sprouted Corruption Spikes holding it in place, preventing the core from being healed.

Optimus took Ironhide and Warpath to go with him to the Core.

The Autobots had to rescue Omega Supreme from the Decepticons before they could go to the Core, as only Omega could open the Omega Gate.

Optimus’ team entered the Omega Gate to head for the Core.

In addition to the threat of Dark Energon emanation, the Autobots face battalions of Decepticons set up to protect the Core from the Autobots.

The Autobots mount turrets set on the backs of some space slugs, riding through the inner depths of Cybertron to its Core.

A monstrous, corrupted slug obstructs the Autobots’ path and causes the floor to collapse.

The menace that attacked the Autobots before attached itself to the Core and fought the Autobots.

Exodus vs. WFCHow the Autobots purge the Core from its corruption

Bumblebee destroyed the Corruption Spikes and Optimus pulled out the Plasma Energy Chamber.

The Autobots defeated the corrupted slug.

Exodus vs. WFCWhen the Core speaks to Optimus

The Core spoke in a voice only Optimus could hear.

The Core tells Optimus that the Autobots must leave Cybertron to give it time to heal.

The Core speaks in a voice audible to anyone.

Optimus himself resolves that the Autobots must leave Cybertron while the Core heals it.

Sam Witwicky placed the Matrix of Leadership into Optimus Prime’s dead body, reactivating him… only for the Matrix to be immediately taken back by The Fallen and placed into the Star Harvester. Both the Matrix and the Harvester were eventually destroyed by Optimus.

Optimus used the Magnus Hammer to forge a new container for the AllSpark, called the Matrix, after the AllSpark was reconstituted on Earth in the 22nd Century.

Exodus vs. WFCDark Energon’s status towards the end

The production of Dark Energon had ceased once the Core was disinfected of it.

The Geosynchronous Energon Bridge had shut down.

The Geosynchronous Energon Bridge was apparently destroyed when it was shut down.

The Energon Bridge was still functional, feeding power and Dark Energon to the station.

The Energon Bridge only shut off once the plasma core blew much later on, during the Aerialbots’ attempt to disable the station.

Exodus vs. WFCThe beginning of the evacuation of Cybertron

Optimus and his crew take off in the Eight Track along with the evacuation fleet.

Optimus and his team monitor the evacuation fleet from Iacon.

The Eight Track is not in the game.

Exodus vs. WFCTrypticon’s attack on the fleet of evacuees

The beams fired from Trypticon Station destroyed the Autobots’ ships by zapping them with Dark Energon, which then caused said ships to momentarily disintegrate.

Megatron contacts the Autobots to explain his attack, and then contacts them a second time to discuss their surrender.

The beams fired from Trypticon Station destroyed the Autobots’ ships by swiftly blowing them up.

Megatron gives only one announcement: his reasons for attacking the fleet. He makes no attempts to discuss any Autobot surrender.

Exodus vs. WFCThe plan to disable Trypticon Station

Optimus planned to fly the Eight Track up to a blind spot on Trypticon and, with a small team, disable the station.

Optimus lead a team of Ironhide, Jazz, Bumblebee, Prowl, and Sideswipe, and himself (with Jetfire on standby in the ship) onto Trypticon Station.

Silverbolt took Air Raid, Jetfire, and a few extra Aerialbots up to disable Trypticon Station’s main cannon.

The Aerialbots entered Trypticon by blasting through the main gun’s defenses and flying through some exposed exhaust vents.

Exodus vs. WFCHow Trypticon Station was disabled

Enemies (that weren’t Decepticons) spawned from out of the walls, and then merged with the structure of the corridor.

The Autobots are quick to realize that Trypticon is alive.

The Autobots encountered a swarm of Minicons, which the Autobots were able to destroy.

The Autobots shoot at Trypticon’s Spark chamber to stop him.

Trypticon began to fall towards Cybertron in its Station mode.

No skirmish occurred during Trypticon’s fall.

Actual Decepticon resistance is encountered on Trypticon by the Aerialbots.

The Autobots don’t realize that Trypticon is alive until he starts talking later on.

Megatron contacts Jetfire via a hologram, taunting him as more Decepticons attack.

The Aerialbots drain the coolant to the main gun, overload the plasma core, and target Trypticon’s conversion cog to disable him.

Trypticon reverts to his dino mode in space prior to his impact with Cybertron.

The Aerialbots and Trypticon engaged each other high over Cybertron.

The Aerialbots took out Trypticon’ jet packs, sending him plummeting to Cybertron in dino mode.

Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'

OhMy GodSuch a long list I couldn't read it all but Exodus is extremely different.

By "Kim Yura" & "Zimmo81"

Henry921 wrote:You can always be counted on to listen to reason, Pryme.

Dead Metal wrote:Have you ever, and i mean ever seen/read/heard something that is completely original and does not copy/homage/pay tribute to something else? Here's a hint: Nope. You never have and you never will.

Motto:"May God have mercy on my enemies, because I sure as hell won't."

Gyrotron wrote:OhMy GodSuch a long list I couldn't read it all but Exodus is extremely different.

Same here, actually. Good lord, man, how long did it take you to type all that up? And the coloring and list-making. Christ, you must have been here all night.

Also, as far as unaligned "neutral" characters go...the first mission in the Decepticon campaign in WfC features Starscream's neutral army, distinguished by their yellow lighting, as opposed to the Autobots' red lighting or the Decepticons purple lighting.

Shadowman wrote:Same here, actually. Good lord, man, how long did it take you to type all that up? And the coloring and list-making. Christ, you must have been here all night.

Well, not exactly. I did it the old fashioned way by typing it all in MS Word (tags and all) and then copying/pasting it into here. As for how long it took me to accumulate all this info: MONTHS!

Shadowman wrote:Also, as far as unaligned "neutral" characters go...the first mission in the Decepticon campaign in WfC features Starscream's neutral army, distinguished by their yellow lighting, as opposed to the Autobots' red lighting or the Decepticons purple lighting.

Yeah, I know. But I was mostly trying to keep it to just "named" characters instead all the footsoldiers that show up. Still, those who served under Starscream and survived likely became Cons after Level 1.

Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'

Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'

Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'

Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'

Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'

Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:A few minor nits here and there with my own interpretations of some of the canon-but still damned impressive.

While doing this, I was mostly trying to ignore as many personal views and opinions of the canon and present everything as it's told at face value.

It's two things.

1. Hound doesn't know about energon cubes... just Hound. It's also the wording he uses. 'Some kind of cube'. It doesn;t suggest to me that the other Autobots don't know or don't use cubes themselves. As for the recharing chamber, it's simply more convenient for them it seems.

Add the visual evidence in War Dawn and energon cubes aren't an exclusively-Decepticon technology.

2. I never got the idea that all Autobts are nameless until named in Autobot Boot Camp in TF:A. I doubt every single Autobot went through it.

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:1. Hound doesn't know about energon cubes... just Hound. It's also the wording he uses. 'Some kind of cube'. It doesn;t suggest to me that the other Autobots don't know or don't use cubes themselves. As for the recharing chamber, it's simply more convenient for them it seems.

The "Traitor" episode implies that the Autobots don't use Energon Cubes. When Cliffjumper tells Prime and Ratchet that he saw Mirage carrying two Energon Cubes, Ratchet is completely baffled at where and how Mirage could have gotten Energon Cubes from. If the Autobots used them, it would have been simple to assume that Mirage got them from the Autobots' own supply, yet Ratchet is confused as to how Mirage could have acquired Energon Cubes at all. Not simply the fact that he has them, but that he was able to get them from somewhere period.

And why can't the Recharging Chambers be the Autobots' energy recharging source?

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:Add the visual evidence in War Dawn and energon cubes aren't an exclusively-Decepticon technology.

The dialogue in that episode never once used the word "energon" to refer to that stack of energy. Only the word "energy" was used.

Plus, this isn't the only time that the animators used the look of Energon Cubes for something that wasn't Energon. The Combaticons' Personality Components, for example, were drawn as Energon Cubes when the script for "Starscream's Brigade" called for a different design for them (glowing green cubes with words of warning written on them, and then later colored ebony). Not to mention that, despite looking exactly like Energon Cubes in the episode "Starscream's Brigade", the "B.O.T." episode drew them looking significantly more detailed and gadget-like.

Plus, the opening narration of the first episode says that the planet had been drained of its "once rich resources of energy", not specifically energon. And the glowing orange conductors Wheeljack and Bumblebee steal are said to hold "energy", not "energon". Coupled with Hound's unfamiliarity with energon, we cannot say that Energon had been the sole source of energy used by the Transformers before coming to Earth in the G1 cartoon. If it had been, then it's really stretching to say that Hound never knew the name of the very stuff he had lived on for all of his life.

I've also just started reading the old Marvel G1 comics and this argument is supported there too since ten issues in and not once has the word "energon" ever been brought up by either side. Only the words "energy" and "fuel" have been mentioned (the latter much moreso than the former).

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:2. I never got the idea that all Autobts are nameless until named in Autobot Boot Camp in TF:A. I doubt every single Autobot went through it.

Eh, I just went with what the show and Almanacs gave us, with them saying that those who attended Autobot Boot Camp got their names there and acted like they hadn't been called much of anything else before. Both the sergeants and the cadets reacted like the cadets were nobodies until they got their names there.

Now it is entirely possible that the cadets went by some previous identifier prior to entering boot camp, but that notion wasn't really explored so I just took what we were given and had to work with it.

Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'

The other is an ancient group of space-faring Transformers (including Jetfire) who served under the Dynasty of Primes.

Is that from the movie comics? Because IIRC in the film Jetfire states that he is (or was) a Decepticon working for the Fallen and he quits because he didn't like their negative attitudes or something like that.

Last edited by Cyberstrike on Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

The other is an ancient group of space-faring Transformers (including Jetfire) who served under the Dynasty of Primes.

IIRC in the film Jetfire states that he is (or was) a Decepticon working for the Fallen and he quits because he didn't like their negative attitudes or something like that.

And Jetfire was one of these Seekers who served under the Prime Dynasty. They were charged with seeking out stars to be used to recharge the AllSpark. Only after The Fallen went rogue did they become Decepticon-affiliated.

Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'

I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see that you were one of the few who, like me, made it through nearly all of that.

That is astounding work there Saberblade!

That takes a devotion to detail and history that few folks possess the patience for. The truly scary part is that there is actually room to add more detail points to all of this. I would hope, for the sake of your own sanity, that you are not going to attempt to tackle any further detailing on this any time soon. What you have done is truly amazing. You deserve some kind of plaque or medal for this. We'll have to hit up some of our modders and customs guys to see what they can come up with for you.

T-Macksimus wrote:The truly scary part is that there is actually room to add more detail points to all of this. I would hope, for the sake of your own sanity, that you are not going to attempt to tackle any further detailing on this any time soon.

Yep. For while I had considered adding info from the Marvel G1/G2 comics, the Dreamwave G1 comics, the IDW G1 comics, the Dreamwave Armada/Energon comics, the RiD cartoon, the Titan movie comics, the Japanese G1 cartoons, and other sources as well. But, I figured it would be best to stick with both the English side of the fiction and what I knew best, as I could have gotten false info from secondary sources.

Plus, things like the RiD cartoon didn't have as much necessary backstory material to be included in here. While I could have said something about how Optimus got the Matrix there or how Ultra Magnus and he were brothers, or how the Predacons were dominate enemry faction, the accumulated info from that series wouldn't add up to the competing number of info from other series.

T-Macksimus wrote:What you have done is truly amazing. You deserve some kind of plaque or medal for this. We'll have to hit up some of our modders and customs guys to see what they can come up with for you.

Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:2. I never got the idea that all Autobts are nameless until named in Autobot Boot Camp in TF:A. I doubt every single Autobot went through it.

Eh, I just went with what the show and Almanacs gave us, with them saying that those who attended Autobot Boot Camp got their names there and acted like they hadn't been called much of anything else before. Both the sergeants and the cadets reacted like the cadets were nobodies until they got their names there.

Now it is entirely possible that the cadets went by some previous identifier prior to entering boot camp, but that notion wasn't really explored so I just took what we were given and had to work with it.[/quote]Of course they're nobodies when first arriving. That's what a boot camp does to the cadets-break them down and rebuild them into soldiers. I don't think Rosanna attended boot camp, and she's got a name.